Extemptions, schedules and budgets: A by-the-numbers look at furlough plans

When he began examining furlough plans for some 800,000
civilian employees, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said his intention was to
whittle down the 22 days originally announced by the Pentagon. In that he was
successful, dropping the number to 14 and then eventually to 11.

Any hopes of going lower are dashed, at least for now, Hagel
said.

"I tried everything. We did everything we could not to get
to this day, this way. But that's it. That's where we are" Hagel told a group
of civilian workers in Virginia Tuesday. "Let me thank you for everything you do and
recognize... I know, the leaders of this institution know the hardship this
decision puts on everybody and your families. We're not unmindful of that. And
that's the most distressing part of this decision. We recognize that. And I'm
sorry about that."

The decision includes 11 days of furlough starting July 8.
Employees will be furloughed one day per week through September though
commanders have flexibility in determining how leave schedule will work at each
command.

Here are some other details on furloughs and their impact:

Why are employees
being furloughed?

$37 billion hit to Pentagon budget this year due to sequestration's
across-the-board cuts

$20 billion shortfall in operations and maintenance account
that pays for civilian workers

$10 billion shortfall in overseas operations, including
higher costs associated with removal of equipment in Afghanistan

Other cutbacks

Army terminated most 2013 training rotations at combat
training centers

Air Force stopped flying about a third of combat coded
squadrons in the active force

Navy and Marines cutting back deployments, including not
sending a second carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf

Temporary civilian workers let go, cutback on travel and
most bonuses

Furlough schedule

May 28-June 5 - Furlough proposal notices go out

June 4-12 - Individual employee reply period ends

June 5-July 5 - Furlough decision letters delivered

July 8 - Furloughs begin no earlier than this date

Who is exempt?

Civilians in combat zones

Those deemed necessary to protect life and safety, including
most medical personnel

Navy shipyard employees

Employees funded by the National Intelligence Program,
mostly CIA workers

Employees whose positions are funded exclusively through
Foreign Military Sales

Foreign national employees working for the Pentagon outside
the U.S.

Who isn't exempt

About 680,000 Department of Defense civilian workers

Depot-level employees, whether they are mission-funded or
working capital fund employees

Military Intelligence Program employees

Nine-month DOD Department of Education employees, including
teachers, education aids and support staff though they may only be furloughed
for up to 5 days at the beginning of the 2013 school year